Apparatus for and method of manufacture of cuproammonium rayon



June12, 1945. w. H. FURNESS 2,373,211

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPRQAMMONIUM RAYQN Original Filed May 1, 1940 s Sheet's-Shet 1 W T MN L w W. H. F URNESS APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPROAMMONIUM RAYON June 12, 1945.

O riginal Filed May 1, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 4rrmvsks y Mu June 12, 1945 w. H. FURNEYSS I 2,378,211

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CQPROAMMONIUM RAYON Original Filed May 1, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPBOAMMONIUM RAYON Jpne 12, 1945. w H. FURNESS I 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 1, 1940 I INVEA/ 8 Shees-Sheei 5 A )w /W zwzway A TIDR/VBFS w. H. FuRN Ess June 12, 1945.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPROAMMONIUM RAYON Original Filed May 1, 1940 w. H. FURNESS 2,378,211 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPROAMMONIUM RAYON June 12 1945.

8 Sheet s Sheet 7 Original Filed May 1, 1940 mm m L %I II '4 T Tom/E KS w. H. FURN Ess June 12, 1945.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF CUPROAMMONIUM RAYON Original Filed May 1, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 12, 1945 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MANU- FACTURE OF CUPROAMMONIUM RAYON William H. Furness, Haddonfleld, N. J. assignor to American Rayon Company, Inc., Riverton, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Original application May 1, 1940, Serial No.

332,693. Divided and this application December 6, 1941, Serial No. 422,016

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for the manufacture of rayon, and is particularly useful in'the manufacture of cupro-.

ammonium rayon. Its nature. objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The method and apparatus will first be genertion taken substantially on the line 22-2 2 of Figure 21. I

Figure 23 is a cross section taken-on the line 23-23 of Figure 22 but only illustrating certain of the bars of the cageof Figure 21 and the actuating parts therefor. and

Figure 24 is a cross section taken on the line 2424 of Figure 22 illustrating the remaining bars of the cage and the actuating parts therefor.

The cuproamrrionium cellulosic spinning solution.is preferably made in accordance with my Patent No. 2,225,431, dated December 1'7, 1940, if

-wood pulp be employed, and according to my Patent No. 2,247,124, dated June 24, 1941, if cot- '15 taken substantially on the line 211-21) of Fig- I ure 2a.

Figure 2c is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially on the line 2c-2c of Figure Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed end view of the cage which is diagrammatically shown in Figure 2 taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3 and illustrating one end portion ofthe-cage.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the other end portion of the cage and associated operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line l-l of Figure 5.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary cross sections taken on the line 8-8, 9-9, Ill-Ill and li| l, respectively of Figure 5.

Figures 12 to inclusive are diagrammatic side views illustrating various positions assumed by the bars of the cage shown in Figures 3 and 4 during one complete cycle of their movements.

Figures 12a to 20a'inclusive are diagrammatic end views corresponding to Figures 12 to 20 inclusive.

Figure 21 is an end view taken on the line 2|--2| of Figure 22 illustrating another cage employed in the apparatus onto which the thread is laid before it is led to the cage shown in Figure 2. l

Figure 22 is a fragmentary longitudinal secton linters be employed.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2,

2a, 2b and 2c, the cellulosic solution is pumped 1 from a suitable source of supply to the spinnerets 1 in the caustic soda setting bath A. The caustic soda setting bath has a concentration of from about 25 to 45 grams per liter of NaOH, depending upon such considerations as the concentration of the cellulose in the spinning solution. The spinnerets preferably discharge upwardly and the setting bath is circulated as described in my copending application Serial No. 332,694, filed May 1, 1940. The number of spinnerets em ployed varies, dependent upon how heavy a bundle of filaments itis desired to produce and treat. The bundles of filaments delivered by the spinnerets are gathered into a single bundle after passing suitable guides 8, and the bundle is led over a driven roll 9 and thence passed around an idler roll I0 and. laid up in the form of a continuously advancing helix on the rotating cylindrical cage B, the construction and operation of which will be later described. From the cage B the bundle of filaments is led over an idler II to a similar cylindrical cage C upon which th'e'bundle is laid in the formof a'continuously advancing helix, as indicated in Figure 2.

On the rotating cylindrical cage B, the turns of the bundle are subjected to a water wash which is preferably hot. The water wash is introduced by means of a perforated pipe l2, and' the water dripping on the upper part of the cage collects in the bottom in a suitable pan l3 in which, located slightly below the normal water line, is a series of nozzled pipes ll of similar construction to those shown in Figures 2a and 2b, which will be later described. Air is delivered to these pipes and has the effect of blowing up wash-liquor against the bottom of the cage. consequence, the filaments of the bundle are effectively subjected to the hot water wash which has the eflect oi removing the bulk of the caustic soda, the ammonia and a substantial portion of the copper in the filaments. I-Iot water is used in preference to cold water, for the reason that caustic soda is more soluble in hot water and therefore the removal of the caustidsoda, sinmonia'and copper can be efiected with a smaller quantity of water than would otherwise be required.

collect this, the cage is enclosed in a housing 15 having a suction outlet It for carrying off the ammonia gas along with air, for subsequent recovery of the ammonia as ammonia water. as described in my aforesaid, copending application.

1 The wash liquor collected from beneath the cage.

collecting inthe pan 28 contains so little acid and copper that it may be discarded. ii desired.

orated as gas by the hot water and in order to The bundle of filaments, now largely freed oi shown inFigure 2a. The acid wash solution runs down over the cage and is collected-in the pan i8 and serially flows into a succession of troughs Thewash liquors collected in-the reservoir II are treated in the manner described in my aforesaid copending application, in order to recover plied to the enclosing casing 21. Tovpermit of shrinkage during, the dryinghitis preferable to taper the cage atthe drying end portion, as indicated at 28.

Referring back to the spinning and the hot water wash treatment, the spinning solution or goo is fed to the spinnerets in constant volume, and the roll 9 is driven at constant speed as is the cage B. The roll isdriven at a constant speed coordinated with the rate of delivery of the spinnerets, whereby breaking of! of the filaments-is avoided. It is apparent that the lineal speed of the cage B is greater than .the rate of spinning, the result of which is to stretch the bundle of filaments. This stretching is such as would cause breakage at the spinnerets. By interposing the roll 9, which is driven at a constant speed coordinated with the rate of spinning, the greater portion of the stretching occurs between the cage B and the roll 9. One advantage of Y the foregoing is that loosening of the turns of I9 which are downwardly inclined toward the ceneffectively subjected to the acid wash and the-- remaining caustic soda and copper are removed from the filaments.

a By virtue of the fact that most of the caustic soda, the ammonia and a substantial part 0! the copper have been previously removed by the hot water wash, a relatively small amount of sulphuric acid is required in the acid section. It will also be noted that the fresh acid solution is applied to the beginning of the helix and only for a short distance; and that the-acid solution collecting therebeneath is fed in the direction of the advance of the helix so that the strongest solution is applied at the beginning of the helix and, as the solution becomes weaker, it is successively applied to portions of the bundle progressively containing less caustic soda and copper, and this despite" the fact that the cage C is hori- 'zontally disposed.

The acid and the soluble salts in and on the bundle of filaments are'removed by a water wash supplied through the perforated pipe 24. The

' drippings from the first portion oi this pipe .are

directed by the inclined baiile 25 into the right hand trough of the succession oi troughs l9, the

collected wash water overflowing into the next r trough and so on until the wash liquor discharges through the pipe 20 into the vessel 2|, along with The purpose of this a the acid wash liquor proper. is to recover acid and copper, it being noted that the filaments leaving the acid section proper contain a substantial amount of acid and some copper. The remaining portion of the wash liquor the helix on the cages is prevented during liquid treatment. liquid from the bundle which is advantageous in such respect. Furthermore, it makes it possible to spin a cellulosic spinning solution of relatively high viscosity. The higher the viscosity of the spinning solution, the more slowly must it be spun into the setting bath and the more slowly must the draw roll be rotated. While, therefore, in such case, the spinning solution is being slowly spun into the setting bath, yardage is gained by the stretching so that the cage B and the cage 0 can be operated at a sufiiciently rapid rate for commercial production.

For some classes of work, the end product might be too low in elongation, because the stretching has the efiect of decreasing the elongation property of the filaments. For such classes of work, therefore, it is preferable to provide means whereby the elongation lost during the stretching may be regained in whole or in part. Tothis end, I provide a ribbed, corrugated roll 29 at the drying endportion of the cage C as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2a; The ribs or corrugations 30 on the roll 29 fit between the spaces, i. e., interleave with the bars, of the cage C, as shown in Figure 2c. The

eflect is to crimp the bundle and to spread the filaments somewhat, in consequence of which, as

drying proceeds, the bundle of filaments has opportunity for free shrinkage, during which shrinkage, elongation lost during the stretching is regained, the extent of elongation regained being dependent upon the adjustment of the roll 29 toward and away from the cage. In cases where it is unnecessary to regain elongation,

the roll 29 is adjusted .to an inoperative position. The roll 29 is of-course an idler roll and is driven by the cage C. In addition, it is pointed out that the roll 29 is advantageous in that, due to the crimping of the thread, it keeps the thread feeding along at the tapered end of the cage, and also separates the filaments of the thread somewhat to give more effective drying.

It is to be understood that when the bundle is dried, it is continuously drawn off from the The stretching also expresses some.

v tion with the bars 32 of the other set.

I I "2,878,211 drying end of the cage and laid upon any, suitable holder, in the. case of long filament rayon:

In the case of rayon staple, the bundle may :be

led onto a conveyor in theiusual manner, either before. or after drying, and cut into the desired,

lengths on the conveyor; or it-may be cut on the drying end of a cage, as shown in'my co.- pending application Serial No. 269,881, filed April 25, 1939, now Patent No. 2,277,753. In the I case of staple, a very fat bundle will be spun,

for which purpose a greater number of spin-.

nerets would be cut in. In the case of long filament rayon, one or more spinnerets may be employed depending upon the denier desired.

Certain features of construction will now be described and followed by a statement of the advantages thereof.

The cage c, which is diagrammatically mus} trated in Figures 1, 2, 2a, 2b and 2can'd in detail in Figures 3 to 11 inclusive, comprises a multiplicity of bars mounted for radial in and out and longitudinal back and forth movement, the bars being arranged in concentric formation in two sets with the bars 3| of one set in circumferentially evenly spaced interspersed rela- The bars of each set are arranged in groups and, in this instance, I have shown each set of bars arranged in four groups, with each group including nine bars. The bars3| are secured at spaced intervals along their length to arcuate supports.

33, having radially disposed rods 34. which slidingly fit the radial spokes 35 of hub members 36.

Similarly, the bars 32 are secured at spaced intervals aiongtheir lengths to arcuate supports 31 having radially disposed rods 38 which slidingly receiving the end portion 46b of the shaft 4| and transversely extending bearings 48 and 60 for the-cam shafts ill and 62. -A pair of cams- 63 and 64 and a worm wheel 66 are keyed on the camshaft 3| for imparting longitudinal back and forth movement to the bars 3| and 32 of the cage in a predetermined timed relation, and a pair (it .cams'll and 61 and a worm wheel "were keyed on the cam shaft 62 for imparting radial in-and out movement ,to the bars 3|-and 32 of the cage in a, predetermined timed relation.

fitthe radial spokes 39 of hub members 40, it

being noted that the hub members 36' and 46 are so relatively disposed that the spokes 35 and 39 are in even alternate radial relation as viewed inFigure 3. In this figure, I have shown the bars 3| in their outermost positions and the bars 32 in their innermost positions for the sake of clarity,,while in Figures 4 and 5' the bars 32 as well as the bars 3| are shown in their outermost positions.

The hub members 36 and 40 are splined on a The cams referred to are rotated bihmeans of a driveshaft 59 connected to any suitable source of power, and a worm .66 keyed on the shaft and.

meshing with the worm wheels 66 and 68. The shaft 69 is rotatably mounted in a fixed bearing 6| and in the end portion 43b of the shaft 4|.

It is=-pointedout that since the worm wheel 42 is keyed on the shaft 4| and since the bearing member 48 in which the cam shafts are mounted is secured to this worm wheel, the cam assembly including the cams 53, 54,. 5'6 and 51 and the. worm wheels 66 and 63 rotate bodily around the axis of the shaft 4i and the cage. Bearing sup- 1 port is provided at this end of the device by means of circumferential spaced supporting rollers 48c on which the cylindrical portion 48d of the member 48 rides. The drive shaft 69 and worm 60,

however, are driven at -a different speed from that of the shaft 4| and therefore the cams are rotated on their axes while they are being bodily v rotated around the axis of the shaft 4|.

The cam 53 is operatively connected to the bars 3| to impart back and forth movement thereto by means of a horizontally disposed bar 62, slidingly mounted in the worm wheel 42 having a'roller 63 at one end riding on the cam surface of the cam 53 and having a longitudinally reciprocable rod 64 connected to its other end by an arm 65.

-40 The rod 64 is securedto the hub members 36 central longitudinal driven shaft 4| so as to" rotate therewith and tobe adapted for movement longitudinally back and forth on the shaft as will further appear. A worm wheel ,42 is keyed on the shaft 4| and is rotated by a worm 43 having driving connection with a suitable source of power.

Collars 44 and 45 splined on the shaft iii are located adjacent the hub members 36 and 40 respectively, and are adapted to be shifted longitudinally back and forth on the shaft independently of the back and forth movement im- I parted to the hub members. The collars 44 are 1 connected to the arcuate members 33 by means which have connection with the'bars 3i in the manner above described." The roller 63 is yieldingly maintained incontact with the cam 53 by -means of a spring 63a connected at one end to the worm wheel '42 and at its other end to a pin 63b carried by the arm 65.

Similarly the cam 54 is operatively connected "to the bars 32 to impart back and forth movement thereto by means of the bar 66, roller 61, rod '68 and arm 69, the rod 66 in this case being secured to the hub members 40 of the bars 32. The roller 61 is yieldingly maintained in contact with the cam 54 by means of a spring 61a connected. at one end to the worm wheel 42 and at its other end to a pin 61b carried by the arm 69.

The cam 56 is operatively connected to the bars 3| to impart radial in and out movement thereto by means of a horizontally disposed bar 1 i0 slidingly mounted in the worm wheel '42 having a roller 1| at one end riding on the cam surface of the cam 56 and having a longitud nally reciprocable rod 12 connected to its other end by an arm 13. The rod 12 is secured to the collars 44 which have connection with the bars 3| in the manner above described.

Similarly the cam 51 is operatively connected to the bars 32 to impart in and out movement thereto by means of bar 14, roller 15, rod 16 and arm 'l'l, the rod 16 in this case being secured to the collars 45 of the bars 32. Springs Ha and 15a similar to the springs 63a and-61a above deforth movement to the bars above referred to.

This cam mechanism comprises a supporting or bearing member 48 secured to the worm wheel 42 to rotate therewith, and having a bore 48a for scribed yieldingly maintain the rollers 1i and 15 in contact with the cams 56 and 51.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 20 inclusive and 12a to 20a inclusive, it will be seen that I have adjacent bars and 32, a series of views illus- I trating various relative positions taken byfithe bars during one cycle of their movements, i.- a, during the time that the came .58, 58, S8 and 51 make one revolution on their axes.

In these views, the dimension indicated at o in Figure 12 represents the length or? the back and forth movement of the bars and the dimension 2; in Figure 1'8 represents the amount of in and out movement of the bars: The short dotted lines and arrows c indicate the path of the bars at and the longer dotted lines andarrows d indicate the path of the cars 32.

in Figue oa 12 and so, the bars arc'shown in the some positions as they appear in Figures 4 and The position illustrated in Figure 12 will be a sumed to'bc the starting point in describing one cycle of movement as thebars, as the cams 55, tie and a? rotate: in the directions of the arrows indicated in Figure- 5 the bars 8! first more to the right white romance-g in their outermost pcslticns'untii they reach the end of their right hand movement shown in Figure 16. While this movement oi the Si taking piece,

the bars first move the left and also inwarciiy to the position shown in Idioms 13, then to the ieit willie remaining their positions to the point shown in 1%, then to the left and outwardly to the mint shown in Figure and then to the rich hilc remaining in their outermost positions the point shown in Figure it is be noted that tooth oi the sets of bare it and move to sight while in their outermost positions dz portion of the cycle between the positic s shown in Figures 15 and 16. This portion oi the cycle is preliminary, so to speak, to the support oi the thread being transferred from bars 3%, which are just completing their forward stroke, to the bars 82 which are just starting on their iorwardstroke.

From the position shown in Figure 16, the bare it move to the left andvlnwardly to the point shown in Figure 17, then to the left while remaining in innermost position to the point shown in Figure 18, then to the left and outwardly to 'the point shown in Figure 19, and then movement to the right in the outer positions of both sets of bars Just referred to avoids any possibility of there being a time in the cycle at which no bars are moving to the right in outer position as would be the case if the bars of one set should start to move inand to the that the cam surfaces of the earns 58 and 58 are so relatively timed and configured that when the bars 3! are moving to the right in their outermost positions or to the left in their innermost positions, the hub members 38 and the collars dd to the right while remaining in outermost position to the point shown in Figure 20. it is to be noted that both sets oi bars 3i and 82 move to the right while in their outermost position during the portion of the. cycle between the positions shown in Figures 19 and 20, this being:

are'moved axially of the shaft 5.! at the same speed, so that there is no relative movement therebetween, and that when the bars are moving inwardly or outwardly there is relative axial movement between. the hub members and collars toward or away from each other to cause the links id to move the barcarrying arcuate members in or out as the case may be. This is also true with respect to the cams Eli and 5? which actuate the bars 32.

in order to collect liquids which would otherwise drip over certain of the parts of the actuating mechanism above described, I have pro- 'vided inner shields or troughs 33a and 87a of ti-shaped form which are carried by the arcuate supports 33 and 3? respectively and which extend longitudinally of the cage C as shown in Figures 3 and i.

It is pointed out that the driving mechanism for the cage and the cam actuating mechanism D for the bars-with the exception of the bar supports and reciprocating actuating rods, are located beyond the end of the case itself out of the region where the thread is being chemically treated where they may be conveniently enclosed in a suitable housing, for ready access.

With reference to the relative speeds of the drive shaft for the worm 63 for rotating the cage and the drive shaft 59 for rotating the cams oi" the cam mechanism D, these may be varied to suit particular conditions. For example, when employing a cage of large diameter rotating at slow speed, these drive shafts may be driven at such relative speeds that the cage will make one similar to the action taking place between the positions shown in Figures 15 and 18 with ,the exception that in Figure 15 the bars 82 are in their extreme left hand positions and the bars 3| have not quite reached the end Ottheir right" hand movement, while in Figure 19 the bars it are in their extreme left hand posltlonss'nd the bars 32 have not quite reached the end of their right hand movement. In other wordy in the osition of the bars shown in Figure 15,, support of the thread is about to be transferredfronr the bars 3| to the bars 32 while in the positionshown' in Figure 19 support of thethread is about to be transferred from the bars 32 back to' the bars 3! again.

.When the bars are in thecage and move it to the right to lay it up inv the form of a continuously advancing helix i jbe provided. t

, outermost position and moving to the right they contact the thread-on revolution for each forward stroke of the bars. When employing a cage of smaller diameter and higher rotative speed, these shafts may be driven at such relative speeds that the cage will make several revolutions for each forward stroke of the bars as is the case in the machine illustrated in the drawings. Thus high speed spinning may be accomplished without rapid shuttling action of the bars. Thus wear of the parts is minimized. It is to be observed that a. cage'mechanism constructed ,in accordance with my invention 'einploys conslderably fewer than previous mechanisms and that because of its construction f very str] ng and risid cases oflarse size may Referring now to the cage which isdia- I" grammatically illustrated in Figure '1' and in detail in Figures 21 to 24' 1110103178,;2 will be seen from inspection of Figure 1 that the bundle of "filanients or thread is laid up on this cage in 1 the form or a continuously advancing helix just as it is laid up on the cage C, the construction of the bars and the actuating mechanism thereevenly spaced interspersed relation with the bars 18 of the other set. The. bars of each set are arranged in concentricgroups. In this instance I have shown each set of bars arranged into three groups with each group including eight bars.

The bars 18 are in the form of outstanding the position shown in Figure 21 in which the bars 18 are in their outermost-position. When the drive shaft to rotates'to the pointwhere the roller 81 rides oi! the surface. I88 the roller 88 longitudinally extending ribs provided on the arcuate members 88 which are secured to arcuate supports 8|. Each arcuate support has an inwardly extending radial arm 82 provided at its inner or (we end with a forked portion 88 which straddles a central longitudinally extending drive shaft 88. Each of, the radial arms 82 carries a longitudinally extending rod '88 at a point adjacent its arcuate support 8|. These rods 88 fit the bifurcated ends 88 of the spokes 81 of a spoked driving member 88 which is secured to the drive shaft 88 to rotatetherewith, and it will be seen,

therefore. that when the spoked driving member 88 is rotated the arcuate members 88 are also rotated. v

The bars 18 or the other set are secured to arcuate supports 88 each having an inwardly extending radial arm 88 provided at its inner or free end with a forked portion 8| which straddles the drive shaft 84. Each arm 88 carries a longitudinally extending rod 82 at a point adjacent its arcuate support 88. These rods 82 fit the bifurcated ends 83 of the spokes 88 of the spoked driving member 88 above referred to. Thus the rods 82 rotate with the driving member 88 and since these rods are carried by the arms of the arcuate supports 88 it will be seen that the bars 18 rotate with the driving member 88.

Longitudinal back and forth and radial in and out movements are imparted to the bars 18 and 18 by means of a pair of stationary cams 88 and 88a and-associated actuating mechanism now to be described. The cams 85 and 85a are fixedly secured to a suitable fixed support such as the frame member shown at 88! in Fig. 22.

The actuating mechanism for actuating the bars 18 comprises a rocker arm 88 'carrying grooved cam rollers 81 and 88 and secured on a rock shaft 88. The rock shaft 88 is mounted in one of the spokes 81 of the spoked driving member 88 with freedom for turning movement and also for back and forth longitudinal movement and extends through a slot I88 in the arm 82 of one of the arcuate supports 8| for the bars 18, said arm 82 being aligned with the spoke 81 which carries the rock shaft 88, as shown in Figure 21. The rock shaft 88 is provided with fixed collars I8I, I8I abutting against the sides of said arm 82 so that when the rock shaft is shifted in an axial direction the bars will move therewith in a longitudinal direction. Therock'shaft 88 has a disc I82 secured thereon which is provided with three circumferentially spaced pins for receiving one end of the links I83. The other vends of these links are connected to the rods 88 engages thesurface 8880f the cam 88a, and as rotation continues the roller rides onto the surface I88} of the cam 880, thus causing the rock shaft "to ock. This oscillates the disc I82 and operates the links I88 to pull the bars 18 into their inner position. When the shaft 84 rotates to the point where the roller 88 rides oil the surface I88 the roller 81 engages the surface 880 of the cam 88 and as rotation continues the roller 81 rides onto the surface I84 of the cam 88 thus rocking the rock shaft back to the posi-f tion shown in Figure 21 and moving the bars 18 outwardly again.

It is pointed out that the cams 88 and 88a are disposed at an angle as viewed in Figure 22 and therefore as the srooved'rollers travel around the cams they are also moved longitudinally back i and forth because of the inclined disposition of the cams. Thus the rock shaft88, the "disc I82. the links I88, the arcuate supports 8I andthe bars 18 are accordingly moved'longitudinally back and forth, the movement in one direction being imparted by the cam 88 and in the opposite direction by the cam 88a. The cam surfaces are so calculated and related that the movement im- I parted to the bars 18 similar to the movement above described in connection with the bars of the cage 0. e

The actuating mechanism for the bars 18 is similar to the actuating mechanism for the bars 18 just described, and comprises a rocker arm I86 carrying grooved cam rollers I81 and I88, a rock shaft I88 carried by one of the spokes '84 of the member 88 and extending through a slot II8 in the arm 88 of one of the arcuate supports 88 for the bars 18, the collars III on the rock shaft abutting against the sides of the arm 88, a disc II2 secured on the rock shaft, and links I I3 connecting the disc II2 to the rods 82 above described. Since the actuatingmechanism operates the same as the actuating mechanism for the bars 18 its operation will be understood from the above. 7

It ispointed out that in Figures 21 to 24 I have only shown the supports and actuating connection which are located at one end portion of the cage, but it is to be understood that similar parts it being noted that while the roller is riding on the surface-I88 of the cam 88 the parts are inare employed at the' other end portion of the cage and at intermediate points along the cage.

The bars 18 and 18 are provided with facings II 8 of material such as sponge rubber for the' tion it is pointed out that with metal facings the deposit of copper hydroxide is packed onto the bars by the thread. the crystals growing in size and adhering to one another in-very hard scaly form, until a cake of such objectionable thickness builds up that the laying up of the thread on the cage is impaired. Also difficulties are experienced in attempting to remove the caked copper hydroxide by mechanical means. The sponge rubber facings prevent the above because of the yieldable character thereof whichcauses the surface on which thethread is laid to be continuously fiexedby the thread due to its tension. With the surface flexing in this manner the precipitated-copper is kept inmotion and therefore will not form into a cake because the growth of the crystals is prevented as well as their adhesion, on to another. so that they may be compared ufith very loose snowflakes which either fall of! by their own weight or are removed by the washing liquids, On the other hand, on a plain metallic surface the crystals tend to pack like snow would pack into ice-like form. The rollers 9, ll and I I, above referred to are also provided with such sponge rubber facin ,s.

It is to be understood that while I have employed bar actuating mechanism for the cage B of different form from the bar actuating mechanism for the cage C, I contemplate employing actuating mechanism of either of these forms for both cases.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 332,633, filed May 1, 1940, now Patent No. 2,313,140. 7

I claim:

1. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a spinning bath into which the euproammonium spinning solution is spun through a splnneret or spinnerets; a rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundle of filaments is led and on which said bundle is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means intermediate of said cylinder and spinning bath for localizing the major portion of the stretch imparted to the bundle of filaments to the portion thereof extending between said means and cylinder; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said cylinder to a water wash: a second rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundle of filaments is led from the first cylinder and on which it is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said second cylinder-first to a sulphuric acid wash solution; means for then subjecting the bundle asracu bundle of filaments is led and on which said bundle is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means intermediate of said cylinder and spinning bath for localizing the major portion of the stretch imparted to the bundle of filaments to the portion thereof extending between said means and cylinder; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on id cylinder to a water wash; a pan below said cylinder for collecting wash liquor; means associated withsaid pan for projecting the wash liquor therein against the bottom of said cylinder; a second rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundle of filaments is led from the first cylinder and on which it is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said second cylinder first to a sulphuric acid wash solution; means for then subof filaments on said second cylinder to a water wash: means for drying the bundle of filaments on said second cylinder; and means for imparting crimp to the bundle of filaments at said drying portion of the cylinder.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing cupro-ammonium rayon, the combination of a spinning bath into which the cuproammonium spinning solution is spun through a spinneret or spinnerets; a rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundle of filaments is led and on which said bundle is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means intermediate of said cylinder and spinning bath for localizing the major portion of the stretch imparted to the bundle of filaments to the portion thereof extending between said means and cylinder; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said cylinder to a water wash; a pan below said cylinder for collecting wash liquor; means associated with said pan for projecting the wash liquor therein against the bottom of saidcylinder; a second rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundle of filaments is led from the first cylinder and on which it is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said secondcylinder first to a sulphuric acid wash solution; and means for then subjecting the bundle of filaments on said second cylinder to a water wash.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a spinning bath into which the cuproammonium spinning solution is spun through a spinneret Or spinnerets; a rotating cage-like cylinder to whichthe jecting the bundle of filaments'on said second cylinder to a water wash; a pan below said second cylinder for collecting sulphuric acid wash solution; and means associated with said pan for projecting the collected wash solution therein against the bottom of said second cylinder.

4. In the process of manufacturing cuproammonium rayon in which the freshly spun filamentsare wound upon a cage-like cylinder in the form of a continuously advancing helix, and in which treating liquids are applied to the freshly spun filaments while they are being advanced along the cylinder, the steps of dripping said treating liquids over the spun filaments, of collecting, below the helix, treating liquids running of! of the spun filaments, and of forthwith projecting said collected liquids upwardly against the treated filaments.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a rotatin cage-like cylinder the circumference of which is defined by at least two sets of longitudinally ex-.

tending bars mutually interleaved to which cylinder the bundle of filaments is led and on which it is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means for imparting localized stretching to said bundle of filaments prior to its being led onto said cylinder; means for subjecting said bundle of filaments on said cylinder to treatment to remove undesired chemicals therefrom; means for drying said bundle of filaments on said cylinder, said cylinder tapering to a smaller diameter at said drying portion thereof whereby the bundle of filaments is free to shrink on the cylinder while drying; and an idler roll engaging said longitudinally extending bars and the bundle of filaments thereon at said drying portion gherebyto crimp the bundle at said drying por- 6. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a rotating cage-like cylinder the circumference of which is defined by at least two sets of longitudinally extending bars mutually interleaved to which cylinder the bundle of filaments is led and on which it is wound in the form of a continuously advancing helix: means for imparting localized stretchments is led, said cylinder comprising longitudi nally extending circumferentially spaced bars and means for moving said bars to lay up the bundle of filaments in the form of a continuously advancing helix; means for treating the bundle of filaments on said cylinder to remove undesired chemicals therefrom; and means for crimping the bundle of filaments comprising an idl'er roll having longitudinally extending ribs which enter the spaces between the bars of the cylinder to crimp the thread and to be driven by the cylinder, said ribs being constructed of resilient material adapted to locally flex while effecting crimping.

bars and means for moving said bars into and out of thread-supporting position to lay u the bundle of filaments under tension in the form of a continuously advancing helix and said bars having sponge rubber facings for supporting the bundle of filaments, the supporting facings being adapted to fiexllocally by reason of the tension imposed on the filament bundle when said bars are in thread-supporting position and being adapted to recover periodically when said bars are shifted away from said thread-supporting position.

8. In apparatus for the manufacture of cuproammonium rayon, a support on which a bundle of freshly-spun filaments is wound under tension for liquid treatment to remove undesired chemicals therefrom, said support comprising a reel of substantia'lly parallel bars mounted for pcriodic shifting movements into and out of threadsupporting position, said bars' having supporting surfaces for the bundle of filaments constructed supporting position, said bars having supporting members of sponge rubber having continuous relatively impervious faces contacting the bundle of filaments, which are adapted to flex locally under the tension imposed on said bundle when said bars are in thread-supporting position and 3 are adapted to recover periodically when said.

bars are shifted away from thread-supporting po. sition.

10. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a spinning bath into which the cuproammonium spinning 11. In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a cage-like cylinder to which a bundle of filaments is led and on which said bundle is wound in the form ofa continuously advancing helix, means for subjecting said helical bundle of filaments to a sulphuric acid wash solution at the receiving end portion of the cylinder, means below said cylinderfor collecting sulphuric acid wash solution, means for prejecting collected-solution against the bottorn of said cylinder to subject the advancing helical bundle of filaments thereto, means for next subjecting the advancing helical bundle of filaments to a water wash, and means for leading the water wash back to the aforesaid collecting means, whereby the bundle of filaments inits helical advance is progressively subjected to weaker acid wash solution and finally to water alone.

12? In apparatus for manufacturing cuproammonium rayon, the combination of a rotating cage-like cylinder to which a bundle of filaments is led and on which said bundle is Wound in th form of a continuously advancing helix; means for subjecting the bundle of filaments on said cylinder to a sulphuric acid solution; a pan below solution is spun through a spinneret or spinnerets, a rotating cage-like cylinder to which the bundie of filaments is led, said cylinder comprising longitudinally extending circumferentlally spaced said cylinder for collecting wash solution, said pan being provided with a series of trough inclined downwardly, crosswise of thecylinder, to-

ward the center of the pan and the troughs being disposed at progressively lower levels from the ends of the pan to the center thereof lengthwise of the cylinder, whereby the collecting wash solution overflows from one trough to the next toward the center of the pan, and a central outlet for said pan; and a nozzled air pipe in each trough for blowing the-solution, up against the bottom of said cylinder. WILLIAM H. FURNESS. 

